Feeding mechanism for printing-presses.



No. 729,214. PATBNTED MAY 26, 1903. G. H. PALMER & J. w DENMBAD..FEEDING. MEGHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. B, 1600.

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No. 729,214. PATENTED MAY 26, 1903. 0. H. PALMER & J. W. DENMEAD.FEEDING MBUHANISM FOR PRINTING PRBSSES.

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APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6.1900.

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ALI-1415M 'MM No. 729,214; PATENTED MAY 26, 1903. G. H. PALMER &- J. W.DENMEAD. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1900.

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IINTTED STATES PATENT Patented May 26, 1 903.

OFFICE.

CHARLES HENRY PALMER AND JOIIN'WVILLIAM DENMEAD, OF AKRON, OHIO,ASSIGNORS TO THE DIAMOND MATCH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING-PRESSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,214, dated May 26,1903.

Application filed September 6,1900. Serial No. 29.202. (N model.)

To ttZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES HENRY PAL- MER and JOHN WILLIAM DENMEAD, ofAkron, in the county of Summit, and in the State 5 of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeding Mechanism forPrinting-Presses; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of aprintingpress embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevationthereof; and Fig. 3, a detail view, in vertical section, on an enlargedscale.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of thefigures.

The object of our invention is to provide automatic means for feeding toprintingpresses bags or sacks of the kind which as they come from thebag-machine have their bottoms folded over upon the bag and it isnecessary to turn over the bottoms so that the surface previouslycovered by them may be exposed for printing; and to attain such objectour invention consists in the mechanism having the features ofconstruction substantially as hereinafter specified.

IVe illustrate our invention in connection with a rotary printing-press,but a portion of 0 which, however, is shown in the drawings, whichcomprises a part of the frame A and a part of the impression-cylinder B.Mounted on the frame A, at one end thereof, is a box or hopper O forbags to be printed, in which 5 they are stood on end with theirfolded-over bottoms uppermost. Said box inclines outward and upward toovercome any tendency of the bags to fall inward and to insure thepresence of a bag in position at the outer side of the box forengagement by the feeding devices to be described. The outer side of thebox is formed of several suitably-connected horizontal and vertical barsor strips. To supplement the inclination of the box as a 5 means forholding the bags against the outer side of the box, ablast of airisdirected against the inner side of the pile of bags, preferably at theupper end of the pile, from a pipe D, which is connected with a blower.

Mounted in brackets E and E on the opposite sides of the frame A is arock-shaft F, having an arm G, which is connected by a pitman H with awrist-pin 2 on crank-disk I, by the revolution of which the rock-shaftis actuated, and having an arm K, to the outer extremity of which isattached a horizontal rod L, that carries a pair of blades or fingers Zand Z, which project upwardly therefrom at an incline. By the vibrationof the arm K the fingers are moved up and down, their downward limit ofmotion being to a point where their free ends can pass beneath thebag-lap and engage the fold or crease formed thereby, with the resultthat on the ascent of the fingers the bag will be carried along withthem. To insure this engagement of the fingers and bag, means isprovided for raising the lap sufficieutly to enable the ready entranceof the fingers beneath the same. The means preferably employed for thispurpose consists of a pipe M, connected with the induction-port of theair-blower previously mentioned and having preferably two months m and mopposite the lap, so that when air is.

drawn into them the lap will be raised by suction.

In moving with the fingers the bag travels over a guide N, that iscurved on an are concentric with the center of motion of thefinger-carrying arm K, and to prevent the accidental opening out of thelap so far as to result in the disengangement of the fingers therewithone or more (preferably two) plates 0 and O are provided that areparallel or substantially parallel with the guide N and placed suchdistance therefrom as to engage the outer edge of the lap before thelatter can turn so far as to permit the'escape of the fingers fromengagement therewith. The plates 0 and O are extended downward farenough to permit them to be used to support the pipe M, the two monthportions thereof being attached to said plates, respectively, and theplates are preferably flexible and are supported at their upper endsonly, so that their lower portions may be moved to carry the pipe-mouthstoward and from the bags. The months on and m can thus be placed so thatnormally they stand quite close to the bag to enable even a Weak suctionto raise the lap and can be moved out of the way of the fingers whenthey descend to catch the bag.

For moving the plates outward a roller P may be placed on thefinger-carrying rod L to engage a hearing piece or shoe Q on the innerside of the plate near the lower end of the latter, and therebycam orpress the plate outward. The plates 0 and O are shown as supported by across bar or rod R, that extends between extensions a and a of the twosides of the frame A, to which bar or rod the plates are respectivelysecured by clamps o and 0.

In the upper part of the path of the bag in moving with the fingersthere are two arms S and S, that are mounted on a rock-shaft T,whichisjournaled in bearings on the frame extensions a and a. The outerends of the arms S and S are curved, and when the arms are engaged bythe bag the continued movement of the latter by the fingers causes theupward swinging of the arms and results in the complete turning over ofthe lapped bottom and placing that edge of the same in advance of thebody of the bag, which originally overlay the same. Connected to a crankU on the rockshaft T is a ,rod or pitman V, that passes through a yokeW, which at one end is attached to the rod or bar R, and between theother end of the yoke and a collar '0 on the rod V is a coiled spring X,which acts to yieldingly hold the arms S and S in opposition to movementby the bag and fingers and to restore the same from the position fromwhich they are thereby moved. The completion of the turning of thebottom being effected, what becomes the forward edge thereof is passedbetween a pair of feed-wheels Y and Z, placed one above the other onshafts A and B, journaled in hearings in standards G and O, rising fromthe frame extensions a and a. To enable the turning over of the bottomand the entrance of its edge between the feed-wheels, the upper wheel Y,which is the larger one, has a notch y in its periphery, into which thebody-overlapping portion of the bottom moves while being turned over,the revolution of the wheel being of course turned accordingly.

For driving the upper wheel a sprocketwheel C is placed on the shaft A,which is connected by a chain D with a sprocket-wheel E on a shaft F,that is revolved by being geared to one of the gear-wheels of the press.

The bag is moved by the feed-wheels along a horizontal table G to theimpression-cylinder, being confined against lateral displacement by twoside guides H and H on the table and held down to the latter byspring-arms I and I, which reach close to the point Where the nipperscatch the bag and effectually prevent change in or derangement of theposition of the bag-bottom.

In the event that it may be desired to print bags without reversing theposition of the bottom the turning-arms S and S are placed out of use bysimply loosening set-screws, by which they are held in operativeposition, and permitting them to drop out of the way.

Should no bag be fed to the press, it is important to stop the latter toavoid printing upon the impression-cylinder, and for this purpose thefollowing-described provision is made, viz: Journaled on the rod R is asleeve K, having a crank it, to which is attached a bar or strip L ofcopper or other electrical conductor, one end of which is situated sothat by the vibration or rocking of the sleeve it may be moved to andfrom the guide N. A pitman M extends between the crank and a head N,carrying a roller n, which engages a cam O on the feed-wheel shaft A, sothat power may be taken from the latter to rock the sleeve. The bar orstrip L and the guide N are in electrical connection with anelectromagnet P, mounted on the frame A, the circuit through which isclosed or open, according as the strip and guide are in or out ofcontact, and the armature of said magnet is connected to a latch or dogQ, that holds a beltshipper rod R against the pull of a spring S, whichwhen free to act ships the driving-belt from the fast pulley T to theloose one, U. When a bag is carried by the fingers Z and Z, the bagprevents contact of the circuit-closing bar or strip L and the guide N;but if no bag be present said guide will be touched by the bar or strip,and the circuit being thereby closed the magnet will be energized andthe latch or dog Q disengaged from the shipperrod, permitting themovement of the shipper to throw the belt to the loose pulley and stopthe press.

It is thought the operation of our mechanism has been set forthsufficiently in the description already given to make further andspecial description thereof unnecessary. It will be seen that by themachine constructed as shown and described the operations of feedingbags and turning over the bag-bottoms are done wholly automatically. Itis to be understood, however, that the invention, as far as the merefeeding alone of the article to be printed is concerned, can be employedin machines in which there is no occasion to turn over folded or lappingportions, and it is also to be understood that other departures from orvariations in structure may be resorted to which will involve nodeparture or change in principle.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is- 1. As a means forfeeding bags and other articles having folded or lapped parts, a feederthat engages the fold or crease, and a part in the path of the feeder toturn the folded or lapped part, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

2. As a means for feeding bags and other articles having folded orlapped parts, a feeder that engages the fold or crease, and a movablepart in the path of the feeder to turn the folded or lapped part,substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

3. As a means for feeding bags and other articles having folded orlapped parts, a feeder that engages the fold or crease, a part in thepath of the feeder to turn the folded or lapped part, and a feed wheelor wheels, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. As a means for feeding bags and other articles having folded orlapped parts, the combination of a feeder that engages the fold orcrease, and a pivoted arm or arms in the path of the article as it ismoved by the feeder, substantially as described.

5. As a means for feeding bags and other articles having folded orlapped parts, the combination of a feeder that engages the fold orcrease, a pivoted arm or arms in the path of the article as it is movedby the feeder, and a feed wheel or wheels to which the article isdelivered after passing such arm or arms, substantially as described.

6. As a means for feeding bags or other articles having folded or lappedparts, the combination of a feeder that engages the fold or crease, anda pivoted arm or arms yieldingly held in the path of the article carriedby the feeder, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. As a means for feeding bags and other articles having folded orlappedparts, a feeder comprising a vibrating arm and fingers carried by thearm, and an arm or arms in the path of the feeder to turn the folded orlapped part, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. As a means for feeding bags and other articles having folded orlapped parts, a feeder comprising a vibrating arm and fingers carried bythe arm, and a feed-wheel to which the article is delivered by thefeeder, having a notch in its periphery, substantiallyas and for thepurpose described.

9. In combination with a source of supply of articles to be fed, afeeder, and means for subjecting the articles to air-pressure on theside opposite the feeder, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

10. In combination with a source of supply of articles to be fed,afeeder, and an air-suction device that is movable relative to thesource of supply, and means for moving said device when the feeder movesto a position to engage an article,'snbstantially as and for the purposedescribed.

11. In combination with a source of supply of articles to be fed, afeeder, a suction device having a mouth or inlet that is movable towardand from the source of supply and means actuated by the feeder to movesaid device, substantially as and for the purpose described.

12. As a means for feeding articles having folded or lapped parts, thecombination of a feeder constructed to engage the lapped parts, aguideway through which the feeder moves that engages the lapped parts torestrict the opening thereof, and a lap-turning device to which thearticle is delivered from the guide way, substantially as described.

13. As a means for feeding'articles having folded or lapped parts, thecombination of a feeder constructed to engage the lapped parts, aguideway through which the feeder moves, composed of opposing parts torestrict the opening of the lapped portion of the article and alap-turning device to which the article is delivered from the guideway,substantially as described.

14. As a means for feeding articles having folded or lapped parts, thecombination of a feeder constructed to engage the lapped parts and aguideway through which the feeder moves, composed of opposing parts, oneof which is movable, and a suction device connected with the movablepart, substantially as and for the purpose described.

15. The combination of a printing-press, a surface over which articlesto be printed move, an electrode movable to and from such surface, meansfor moving said electrode timed to move the same toward the surface whenthe article to be printed is passing thereover, a circuit including amagnet, said surface and said electrode, and a press-stopping devicethat is actuated when such circuit is closed by the contact of theelectrode and said surface, substantially as described.

16. The combination of a printing-press,a feeder for feeding articles tobe printed to the press, a guide, an electrode movable to and from theguide, a circuit, including a magnet, the guide and said electrode, anda press-stopping device that is actuated when such circuit is closed bythe contact of the electrode and said guide, substantially as and forthe purpose described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we havehereunto set our handsthis 6th day of August, 1900.

CHARLES HENRY PALMER. JOHN WILLIAM DENMEAD. Witnesses:

TOM A. PALMER, B. 0. Ross.

